Calgary lets its geek flag fly at Expo's Parade of Wonders

Nine-year-old Georgia Busch didn’t wear her gory “Spike Walker” outfit on the CTrain Friday morning on the way to the Parade of Wonders. But she was carrying the elaborate, and bloody, costume in pieces. For the uninitiated, the armoured Spike Walker is one of the more outlandish undead in AMC’s Walking Dead, a pet zombie of sorts for the landfill-dwelling Scavengers which tested the mettle of hero Rick Grimes in Season 7.

Basically, it’s a zombie covered in spikes and armour, with more than a little rotting flesh poking through. It managed to look rather imposing, even when attached to Georgia’s tiny frame.

“She was this cute little girl on the CTrain and she is carrying this sort of stuff,” said dad Brent, who was dressed as Rick Grimes.

Brent said his daughter’s costume, which took second place at an Edmonton cosplay contest last year, took roughly three months to put together and takes 15 minutes to get into.

Like many participating in this year’s Parade of Wonders, the Busches turned their gruesome march into a family activity.

The annual parade, which acts as an unofficial kickoff to the Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo, found thousands of costumed participants marching down 8th Avenue towards Olympic Plaza. According to organizers, 4,063 participated in full costume, up from 2,300 last year. An estimated 17,750 took it all in as spectators lined up along Stephen Avenue, up from 15,000 in 2017. Of those, roughly 2,500 were themselves in costume.

Costumed fans line Stephen Avenue and take in the fun during the Parade of Wonders, which kicks off the Calgary Comic & Entertainment Expo.Jim Wells /
Jim Wells/Postmedia

Flanked by the Bishop Grandin Marching Ghosts and a pounding BassBus, the parade snaked its way to Olympic Plaza, where Calgary actor and Walking Dead star Steven Ogg and Canadian actress Megan Follows, best known as our Anne of Green Gables, officially launched Calgary Expo after being white-hatted by Mayor Naheed Nenshi.

There were dozens of Star Wars storm troopers, a whole gang of Boba Fetts, old-school Tusken Raiders and more than a few Reys and Finns and multiple incarnations of Princess Leia. There were a few Logan-era Wolverines, traditional Wolverines and even, somewhat puzzlingly, a Beetlejuice with Wolverine claws.

And, perhaps not surprisingly, foul-mouthed anti-hero superhero Deadpool was also well-represented in the parade this year. The first film, which stars Ryan Reynolds, became a surprise R-rated hit in 2016. A sequel is scheduled for release in a few weeks.

“For starters, he’s one of the only Canadians and he’s funny,” said Ryan Beaudry, who was dressed as Deadpool. “He makes everything funny, regardless of the situation.”

John Gibson, dressed as Beetlejuice / Wolverine combination during the Parade of Wonders.Jim Wells/Postmedia

Like the Busches, the Calgary-based Beaudry family were out in full force. Six-year-old Damien was dressed as something the family called the “Dead Dude,” a “gangster Deadpool.” Wife Brandi was Death, or Mistress Death, a Marvel character who apparently was the reason Deadpool was made immortal after they fell in love, at least in the comics. Two-year-old Dominik was dressed as Spider-Man. “Can’t get a mask on him,” Brandi reports.

Dave Evans, of Rocky Mountain House, was supposed to march with his daughter, but she has tonsillitis. He decided to soldier on anyway, sporting an elaborate Commander Zavala costume from the video-game Destiny. It included a painted blue face and contact lens.

He put the costume together over two-and-a-half months. He even walked around his house with the contact lens ahead of time to get used to them.

Dave Evans, dressed as Commander Zavala from Destiny, plays a tuba borrowed from the Bishop Grandin Ghosts marching band during the Parade of Wonders in Calgary. Jim Wells/PostmediaJim Wells /
Jim Wells/Postmedia

“You can’t help but love it, it’s just a lot of fun,” he said.

Calgary’s Emil Starlight also went all out for his family, transforming into Harry Potter’s Rebeus Hagrid while daughter Skylar dressed as the boy wizard.

“Last year she wanted to go to the Kensington Harry Potter festival and I whipped up a really crappy rig for my Hagrid,” Starlight said. “But we couldn’t make it two steps without people asking for our photo. So I thought I’d pick my game up, revamp the whole costume. I made everything. Everything you see, I sewed myself.”

The Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo takes place at Stampede Park over the weekend. Events scheduled for Friday night include a talk with Anthony Daniels, a.k.a. Star Wars’ C-3Po and a reunion of Back to the Future cast Christopher Lloyd, Tom Wilson and Lea Thompson.

Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi flexes with Lou Ferrigno in the lead car during the Parade of Wonders in Calgary to kick off the Calgary Comic & Entertainment Expo Friday. Ferrigno played The Incredible Hulk in late 1970s. Jim Wells /
Jim Wells/Postmedia

Honorary Marshall Mayor Nenshi led the parade with none other than Lou Ferrigno, the Hulk from the 1970s and ’80s TV series, at his side.

“I’m riding with your favourite mayor,” Ferrigno said. “I’m excited to put a smile on people’s faces and wave to the kids because this is a fun event, being part of the great phenomenon of the Calgary Comic (Expo).”

How did he feel about the handful of green hulks in the crowd?

“I enjoy it,” he said. “It’s instant gratification.”

The Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo runs until Sunday at Stampede Park.

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